Filipino Australian World War 2 veteran laid to rest

SYMBOLLIC American flag with red poppies draped the coffin casket of the departed Filipino-Australian Master Sergeant Emilio Desierto Nacua Sr, a 100 years old war veteran from the US Army HQ 43 Infantry Philippines Division on Thursday Nov 3, 2016 at the Saint Johns XXIII Catholic Church at Stanhope Gardens.

The City of Blacktown RSL Sub-branch lead by Major Tom Baena Jr (Sub branch President, Lieutenant. John O’brien (Sub branch Secretary) and David Blackman, conducted an solemn RSL funeral service. They were joined by the US Army’s American Legion Post Commander David Raymond .

“It was a wonderful service for a wonderful man that I have known for over 30 years. He was with a very unique unit , the very highly respected Philippine Scouts. US Army’s post commander David Raymond said during the tribute.

“When they surrendered, Emilio Nacua Sr didn’t . He left with several others and they fought for three years as guerrillas in the Northern Philippines, post commander Raymond added.

Master Seargent Nacua Sr saw service in the province of Cebu, Philippines where he served under Lieutenant Enrique Pio Campos company, which was eventually disbanded upon the arrival of the superior Japanese Imperial Army that occupied Cebu.

"My father's life was narrated in a book called "Filipino Courage and Heroism", mentioned on page 34-35 was a story of my dad, 71 yrs old daughter of Emilio Desierto Nacua Sr. said.

"My father goes to church early at 4:00 am and says his prayers five times daily after he retired in his seventies. During his last few years, he uttered to ask for forgiveness for the lives of the young Japanese and Korean soldiers that he and his regiment under Lieut. Erediano has slain soldier lives with a machete knife during the war in Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan and Kinatarcan Cebu, Ms. Carmen Flowers recalls.

"After the war, he was the most gentle father that you could ever imagine, she further explained.

"All throughout his life, he was a peacemaker, until his dying breath, he was remorseful, he was asking for their forgiveness as he still sees their faces begging for their lives during the war....those young soldiers were in my father's thoughts, she added.

Carmen knew the fact that there is living Korean veteran from South Korea from the Heavenly World Peace Culture and Restoration of Light (HWPL), their chairman is currently advocating the Declaration of War and Cessation of War (DPCW)

"HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee, in behalf of my father I would like to ask for forgiveness for the atrocities that war brought in. My father 'til the end, couldn't forgive himself for what he has done to those young people. He said that they were so young that they didn't know what they were doing.

"It was a matter of life and death for them, ending up in lost lives of those Japanese and Koreans (ruled by the Japanese at that time), as young as 13-15 yrs old young soldiers.

In as much as there was total domination and invasion by the Japanese Imperial Army of the entire Philippines, the Filipinos engaged in guerrilla warfare. Master Sergeant Nacua, reported to the nearest Filipino American commander in the name of Captain Marcellino N. Navalta.

On one occasion Master Sergeant Nacua, lead a group of soldiers’ to conduct harassment and disruption to the Japanese operations by sniper activities design to demoralize the enemy.

During the mass and funeral rites, Post Commander David Raymond, stated that the war hero’s enlistment in December 13, 1941 as an infantry soldier and military police as a master seargent that was later discharged in February 7, 1946.

Major Tom Baena, Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP) recited The Ode, which was an extract from a poem written as a famous farewell ode Lest we forget: Binyon's Ode of Remembrance during the mass, alongside Lt. John O’brien of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR), a regular soldier 6RAR while David Blackman served in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) in the tank regiment, and a passionate painter paid their respects to the US bannered coffin.

The ode that was recited by Major Tom Baena.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

My daughter Randy Raissa Lagoc-Dingus turns 55 on March 11, 2018. I have no better idea of a birthday gift than to reminisce and share an aspect in a young woman’s life that happened 25 years ago — an incident that showed innate confidence, courage, conviction. And most importantly, compassion in the doctor-to-be. Read on:...

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